Autographic register



June 26, 1934.

I B. A. SCHROEDER AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed March 31, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l ww WNMRJ mv MNB.

June 26, 1934. B. A. scHoEDER AUTQGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed March :51. 1933 s sheets-sheet 2 Jungzs, 1934. B A, SCHRQEDER 1,964,677

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed March 51, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 26, 1934 AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Bernard A. Schroeder, Evanston, Ill., assigner to United Autographic Register Co., Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application March 31, 1933, Serial No. 663,773 11.9 Claims. (Cl. 282-16) This invention relatesl particularly to autographic registers of the hand pull-out type having a iiling compartment to receive a record strip.

Theprimary object of the present invention is to provide a machine in which stationary strips, provided with marginal perforations, are kept in register by pin-wheels and upon the manual withdrawal of an issuing strip a record strip is propelled into the record compartment by the action of the pin-wheels. acter are generally provided with a tear-oil bar and it is a further object of this invention to provide means for initially advancing the ends of the strips from beneath said bar so that'they may readily be grasped by hand. Another object is to provide a measured feed for the stationery and this is accomplished by providing stop means which permit but one revolution of the pin-wheels at a time.

20 The invention is illustrated inv a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a broken side elevational view of the machine partly in section taken as indicated at line 1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 2an enlarged vertical sec,- tional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3, a sectional view taken as indicated lat line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken plan view of the machine; Fig. 5, a broken longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of initial feed device; Fig. 6, a broken longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of Apin wheel adapted to form its own perforations in the stationery; Fig. 7, abroken longitudinal sectional view showing another form of initial feed device; and Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the device in locked position.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-4, A designates a casing or frame provided with a` Vpacket-holding compartment A', a record compartment A2, a platen A3 forming a closure for the compartment A', a skeleton cover A4 adapted to partially enclose the platen, and a cover member A5 forming a top for the compartment A2; B, an initial feed device adapted to initially advance the stationery over the platen by moving the pin-wheels; C, the pin` wheel mechanism for holding the strips in constant alinement; and D, a carbon strip roll container over which carbon strips may be led across the platen A3.

The casing A may be of any suitable construction, and preferably the platen is pivotally connected at one lateral edge of thecasing, in the well known manner, and the skeleton cover A4 Machines of this char-I vwhen the operating arm is thrown forwardly the may be pivoted at the rear end ofthe casing A so that the latter may be swung rearwardly to give access to the platen when it is desired to load the machine. The skeleton cover is shown provided at,its front end with an integrally formed tear-off bar 10 which is adapted to overlie the aligning mechanism and facilitate the severing of an issued form.

The cover A5 is pivoted at 11 to the upper front portion-of the casing of the machine. The cover is provided at its rear end withl a hingedly connected separator member 12 the point of which is adapted to be inserted beneath the tear-off bar l0 and separate the issuing strip from the record strip. A hinge 13, between the separator and cover members may also form a pivotal support for a downwardly extending deiiector plate 14 which serves to direct re-folding of the stationery strips within the compartment A2. The cover may also be provided with a lock 15 to prevent un- 75 authorized access to the iiling compartment.

The initial feed device B comprises an upward- Ily extending arm 16 which is provided at its upper end portion with a knob 16a which is capable of limited forward and yrearward 'movement through slots 17 and 18 in the platen andskeleton cover, respectively. A cross shaft20 is journalled in the side walls of the'- machine and supportsy a pair of rigidly connected pin-wheels 21 and 22. The pin-wheel 21 is shown provided with an internal ratchet 21a which is adapted tobe engaged by a pawl 16b carried `by the arm 16, the latter being pivotally mounted on the shaft 20. The wheel 21 is further provided with a stop 23 which is engaged by a locking arm 24- pivotally connected to the arm 16 at 24a. The locking arm is provided with a slot 24h which is engaged by a pin 25 rigidly connected to the side wall of the machine. If desired, another pin 26 may be provided on the side wall ofthe machine .to prevent the locking arm from being bent when itis struck v by the stop 23. The slot 24b may also serve to limit the forward and rearward swing of the arm 16. A tension springl 27, connected between the pin 28 on the wall of the machine and the arm 16 urges the latter toits rearmost position so lthat the locking bar 24 will be in the path of the stop 23. A small amount of lost motion is provided between the pawl 16D and the ratchet so that locking device will be released before the pawl 16b starts'rotation of the pin-wheels. If desired, an additional pawl 29 may be provided to prevent any rearward movement of the ratchet wheel due to the lost motion mentioned above.. 110

It will be understood that in the operation of the device, the operating arm 16 is swung forwardly to releas'e the locking device and feed the end of the upper stationery strip suciently be yond the tear-off bar 10 to permit the operator to grasp the same. The separator 12 is provided with guide members 12a to facilitate grasping the end of the issuing strip and as this strip =is withdrawn from the machine it will cause the pin- Wheels 21 and 22 to rotate and feed a record strip into-the compartment A2 until the stop 23 engages the'locking bar 24. A stripper member 3l is pivotally mounted in the compartment A2 and serves tovstrip the record copy from engagement with the register pins.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 employs the same principle of operation, but in this case initial feed of the pin-wheel 35 which is mounted on the cross shaft 36, is accomplished by means of a depressible plunger 37 equipped with a camarm 38 which is adapted to engage a stud 35a on the pin-Wheel and cause partial rotation of the same. The plunger is further provided with a stop 39 in the path of a tooth 35b on the pinwheel. The plunger extends through an opening 40 in a tear-off bar 41 and its lower end is bifurcated so as to straddle the shaft 36 and be held in a vertical position. A spring 43 urges the plunger to its uppermost position where it may prevent the pin-wheel from making more than one complete revolution. It will be understood that this device is operated by depressing the plunger 37 which unlocks the pin-wheel and causes a partial rotation of the same to advance the stationery to a position where it may be grasped by hand.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the pinwheels 45 are provided with prick pins 45,a which are adapted to prforate the stationery 46 which isdrawn over the platen into engagement with said pins. With this form of device a'forming Wheel 47 may be provided over the pin wheel 45 so as to press the stationery into engagement with the pins. Obviously, this form of pin-Wheel may be employed with either ofthe initial feed devices described above.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 an initial feed device is provided which is adapted to exert a braking -action on a pin-wheel' as the wheel approaches the end of one complete revolution. This energy is stored up in a tension spring and upon release of a cam-arm or latching device the energy is used to initiate rotation of the wheel automatically.

A pin Wheel 50 provided with a roller 51, is xedly mounted on a shaft 52 which is journalled in the side Walls of the casing 53. A carnarm 54 is pivotally connected to the casing at 54a and is provided at the opposite end with a spring 55 which urges the cam-arm into engagement with the roller 51. The 'cam-arm is p'rovided with a notch 54b which is adapted to engage the roller to prevent rotation of the wheel When in the position shown in Fig. 8. In order to release the wheel a finger-operatedv bellcrank 56 is pivotally mounted at 57 on the cam-arm 54, and is provided with a curved lower end portion 56a which is adapted to bear against the roller and release the wheel by raising the arm 54. The curvature in the arm 56a enables the member to exert a slight driving action on the Iroller 5l and this slight movement assists the cam arm in causing a partial rotation of the pin wheel and loosening the stationery strips 58 from engagement with the interleaved carbon (not shown). A

small tension spring 59 urges the arm 56a into its uppermost position against a stop 54c on the arm 54. In this form of feed device the pin wheel is caused to rotate by the operator withdrawing a strip 58 from above a cover member 60. As one of the forms reaches the end of its travel the roller 5l engages the cam-arm 54 and raises it into latching position. The operator may then sever the issued strip on a tear-olf bar 61. After the next set of forms has been filled in the operator swings the finger-member 56 rearwardly to .release the wheel and automatically initiates partial feed of the next set of forms so that their ends may be grasped beyond the tear-off bar. If for any reason the spring 55 is not able to partially rotate the wheel its action may be augmented by the operator pressing downwardly on the member56, but ordinarily this action is not needed.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a register: a casing provided with a platen over which a plurality of superposed continuous-form stationery strips may be led, va record compartment adapted to receive and store one of said strips, and a tear-of bar for severing an issuing strip; a Wheel having pins adapted to engage the strips and hold the same in register so that manual withdrawal of .the issuing-strip will propela record strip into the record-cornpartment; and an initial feed-device having a measured feed of less than a form-length lfor advancing the ends of the strips, under said tearoif bar.

2. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which means are provided for automatically arresting the advance of strips after a form-length has been withdrawn.

3. Mechanism as specified in claim 1, in which locking means are provided for automatically arresting the advance of strips after a formlength has been withdrawn and means are provided on said initial feed-device for releasing the locking means.

4. In a device of the character set forth: a platen over which continuous-form stationery provided with marginal perforations may be led; a pin-wheel adapted to engage the perforations in said stationery, the circumference of said Wheel being equal to one form-length of the stationery; a measured stroke device for partially rotating said wheel; and means for automatically stopping said wheel after one complete revolution thereof.

5. Mechanism as specified in claim 4, in which the platen is provided with a slot and the measured-stroke device comprises a pivotally mounted arm extending through said slot and adapted to engage the pin-wheel.

6. In a device of the character set forth: a casing having a platen over which continuous-form stationery provided with marginal perforations may be led; a ratchet-Wheel journalled in said casing andhaving pins adapted to engage the perforations and advance the stationery; an initial feed device comprising a lever-arm having a limited forward and rearward stroke, said arm having a pawl adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet-wheel and partially rotate the wheel; and a second pawl pivotally mounted on said casing so as to engage the same teeth and prevent reverse rotation of said wheel.

.7. Mechanism as specied in claim 6, in which the arm is equipped with a locking device adapted to lock the wheel after each complete revolution, and means for automatically releasing the same during the forward movement of said arm.

8. In a device of the character set forth: a casing having a platen over which continuous-form stationery provided with marginal perforations may be led; a ratchet wheel journalled in said casing and having pins adapted to engage the perforations and advance the stationery; a lever-arm having a limited forward and rearward stroke and provided with a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel and partially rotate the same; a locking arm carried by said lever-arm and adapted to lock said ratchet-wheel after each complete revolution; a spring urging said leverarm to locking position; and a pawl adapted to prevent rearward movement of the ratchet-wheel.

9. In a device of the character set forth: a platen over which continuous-form stationery having marginal perforations may be led; a pinwheel journaled in said casing and adapted to engage the stationery and advance the same; and spring-held plunger means having a stop adapted to engage said wheel and prevent forward rotation thereof, and said plunger means being adapted to engage and partially rotate said wheel after the stop has been moved from engagement therewith.

10. In a device of the character set forth: a platen over which continuous-form stationery having marginal perforations may be led; a pinwheel journalled in said casing and adapted to engage the stationery and advance the same; and means for locking said pin wheel and for partially rotating said wheel automatically upon release of the same.

11. Mechanism as specified in claim 10, in which the means comprises a spring-held camarm for engaging said wheel, said cam-arm exerting a driving action during one portion of the rotation of the wheel and a braking action during another portion of said rotation.

12. In a device of the character set forth: a platen over which continuous-form stationery having marginal perforations may be led; a pin wheel journalled in said casing and adapted to engage the stationery and advance the same, said pin wheel being equipped with a stud; a cam-arm adapted to engage said stud and drive the wheel, said cam-arm having a notch adapted to engage a stud and lock the wheel; and finger-operated means for releasing the stud from engagement with said notch.

13. Mechanism as specified in claim 12, in which the finger-operated means comprises a bell-crank member pivotally mounted on the cam-arm serving to raise the cam-arm notch from engagement with the stud and tov exert a turning action on the wheel.

14. In'an autographic register: a casing having a platen over which a plurality of stationery-strips may be led; feed-means for feeding -a measured length of said stationery-strips over said platen; and means for exerting a driving action on said feed-means at the commencement of a feeding movement and a braking action towards the completion of said movement.

15. Mechanism as specified in claim 14, in which the means for exerting a driving action on the feed-means comprises a spring held cam-arm engaglng a stud on the feed-means.

16. Mechanism as specified in claim 14, in which the means forV exerting a driving action on the feed-means also locks the feed-means at the completion of a feeding movement. y

17. In an autographic register: a casing having a platen over which stationery-strips may be led; feed-means for advancing a measured length of said stationery-strips over the platen; and means for storing up energy and exerting a braking Vaction on the feed-means near the completion of an advancing movement and for releasing energy to exert a driving action on the feed-means at -the beginning of said movement.

18. In a hand pull-out autographic register: a casing having a platen over which a plurality of stationery-strips may be drawn; means for regulating the length of stationery-strips withdrawn from the register in one operation; and means for facilitating the manual withdrawal at the beginning of the movement and for gradually retarding the withdrawal near Athe completion of said movement. l

19. In a device of the character set forth: a casing having a platen over which continuousform stationery provided with marginal perforations may be led; a ratchet wheel journalled in said casing and having pins adapted to engage the perforations and advance the stationery; an initial feed device comprising a lever-arm having a limited forward and rearward stroke, said arm having a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel and partially rotate the same; and a locking device on said arm for locking the wheel after a complete revolution, and means for automatically releasing the same during the forward movement of said arm.

BERNARD A. sCHaoEDER. 

